lesson plan

Lesson Plan Overview - Lesson 5: Note Naming

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Now we will apply the concepts in the last few lessons to learn how to name the white notes on the piano. As we learned last chapter the keyboard has black keys separated into 2 note groups and 3 note groups. Each of these groups gives musicians landmarks to locating the other notes in the musical alphabet. The focus here will be how the 3 note groupings reveal where A is on the piano, then we are ready to learn rest of the notes on the keyboard.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of the lessons, students will be able to:

  • Understand the different pitches and note names in music.
               [Comprehension]
  •  Recognize and group notes based on their placement next to the 2 and 3 black keys on the piano.
               [Identification]
  •  Demonstrate what they know by doing well in the Boom Card activity for recognizing note names.
               [Fluency]

Materials Needed
  1. K-Piano equipment (2 Device Lesson For Instructor)
  2. Zoom meeting platform
  3. BoomCards
Lesson Plan Outline:
Note to teacher: Today we are focused on building the relationships and connections in the lab.  Learning in a synchronous lab is a new experience.  We'll start slow getting used to structure, culture and technology of the lab.  Build Relationships. Guide Set-Up. and Troubleshoot Technology. 

Introduction (5-10 minutes)
  • Highlight the K-Piano culture & student expectations.
  • Remind the students how far they’ve climbed in earning their White K-Tag.
  • Review the rules for following directions the first time, remember that when you’re on cam you’re on task and to always do your best.
  • Review the three keyboard learning positions.
Finger Number Review 
  • Review Finger Numbers (Thumb=1, Pointer=2, Middle=3, Ring=4, & Pinky=5).
  • Knowledge Check - Finger Numbers
  • Replay the Finger Number Song
Posture Review
  • Watch video on why we need power and control to perform on the piano.
  • Technique exercise review. To shape your hand with perfect posture guide students to make the Heart Sign then Straighten Wrist and Raise Thumb.
Mapping Review:
  • Reinstate the black key 2s and 3s pattern.
  • Be sure that each child can find the 2s and 3s on their own piano.
Note Naming:
  • The musical alphabet (A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A) is introduced.
  • Then the students learn to find the note “A”.
  • The 3 Steps to find the note “A” are to:
  1. Start with group of 3 black notes.
  2. Find the black note in the middle.
  3. Slide to the right & thats the note “A”.
  • With this procedure the next task is to find the 7 white notes on the keyboard.
  • The accompanying song will reinforce 3 steps to “A” procedure.
Knowledge Check:
  • Boom Card: “Naming the White Notes”.
  • Knowledge Check: Play all the As & play the Cs.
  • High Flyer Bonus: Hands in Penta Scale Position.
Recap and Q/A
  • K-Piano Culture & Expectations
  • Finger Numbers
  • Hand Posture & Control
  • Keyboard Mapping
  • Musical Alphabet
  • Finding the Note “A”
  • White Key Note Names
Conclusion:
At the end of the lesson, students will make the connections to the keyboard geography to naming the white keys with the musical alphabet. With the knowledge of where the landmark notes are (like
“A” and “C”) we will begin to expand our knowledge of the keyboard and soon begin to make scales off these important notes.